What do Jews find strange about Christianity and why.

[Left Coast]

 

[dybmh]

Why?

Jewish people worship God directly. The requirement to go through Jesus to worship God is... well.... strange to me.

I don't come from a religious family; but, I did attend YMCA summer camps. Occasionally one of the counselors, a practicing Christian, would lead Grace before lunch which ended with "... in Jesus' name." That last part always felt weird to me. The beginning was fine, but praying in Jesus' name? That's strange for me.

 

[dybmh]

We've discussed this, and clearly neither of you've bothered to study since then...

Don't be confused, my friend
I was answering Deeje's post. She considers the book of John authoritative and accurate ( I think ).

The question was "What do jews find strange about Christianity?" not "What do Jews find strange about Wizanda's updated/revised/upgraded version of Christianity aka 0neness?"

 

[shmogie]

It isn’t strange at all to reject Jesus of Nazareth’s claim to be the moshiach Ben David. He didn’t fulfill the requirements to be the moshiach.

One thing that is strange about Christianity, and not a few Christians, is when it presumes to think it knows the Jewish Scriptures better than the Jews themselves. The hubris is most strange indeed.

Is true understanding of the ancient Jewish scriptures based in genetics or limited to a particular religious tradition?

Does a Rabbi, because he is a Rabbi, have defacto better understanding of these scriptures than a Pastor who has graduated from a theological seminary?

 

[pearl]

One thing that is strange about Christianity, and not a few Christians, is when it presumes to think it knows the Jewish Scriptures better than the Jews themselves. The hubris is most strange indeed.

Ironically. its the other way around. There can be a Jewish translation of Christian Scripture concerning the earthly Jesus the Jew more accurate than a Christian translation that attempts to separate him from his Jewishness.

 

[Rival]

Is true understanding of the ancient Jewish scriptures based in genetics or limited to a particular religious tradition?

Does a Rabbi, because he is a Rabbi, have defacto better understanding of these scriptures than a Pastor who has graduated from a theological seminary?

It's not about genetics, obviously. It's about culture, history and language. Saying that Christians know Jewish Scriptures better than Jews do is like saying Americans know British culture better than Brits do. The Jewish people have been around centuries upon centuries before Christians and spent that time studying their Scriptures, reading it in their own language, through their own culture, with a native understanding.

Christians are taught what to see (Jesus) and then find it. This is self-serving. I may well ask you why are Muslims wrong when they find Muhammad predicted in the Tanakh? They're doing the exact thing Christians do.

 

[pearl]

Does a Rabbi, because he is a Rabbi, have defacto better understanding of these scriptures than a Pastor who has graduated from a theological seminary?

Translating words is easy, the difficulty is in translating the mind set.

 

[shmogie]

Though I am not Jewish in any way shape of form, I can not help but wonder how some Christian denominations complain about how the Book of Mormon should be discounted because it is not in the Bible, but have no problem with the New Testament being tagged onto the Old Testament

The NT is a continuation of the OT.

Using your illustration, I can understand Jewish resentment, but because I understand it, doesn't make it right.

Actually, adherence to the OT law by the Jews was severely restricted with the destruction of The Temple in 70AD.

This compelled Jewish religious leaders to change perhaps the most important part of the law, the sacrificial system for atonement.
So, the Jewish faith does not adhere in totality to the scriptures as given by God.

 

[loverofhumanity]

This is open to our Jewish posters who might like to provide some scriptural reasons to reject Jesus as Messiah....and any other Christian beliefs that they find “strange”....

This is just a personal opinion of why I believe Prophets are rejected so take it with a grain of salt but I think it strikes at the heart of the matter.

In the past and present followers of all faiths look to their leaders for guidance. Leaders of religion in every age have always condemned new Prophets of God as imposters citing scriptures and their followers almost always accept their judgement without question.

Sooo. The Jewish High priests said Christ was an imposter and He was crucified, followers followed suit, Christian leaders rejected Muhammad so their followers agreed and Muslim leaders condemned the Bab and Baha’u’llah so their followers accepted their views.

Whenever a new Prophet of God appears, it seems that the leaders of the current religion seek to condemn Him as false and that is how it has always happened with the thousands or millions of followers backing their leaders instead of looking into the claims of the new Prophet with their own minds.

God gave us each a mind to think for himself not through others, eyes to see for himself and ears to understand with but instead history has shown we tend to blindly follow popular and charismatic leaders instead of seeking out truth for ourselves.

 

[Rival]

The NT is a continuation of the OT.

Using your illustration, I can understand Jewish resentment, but because I understand it, doesn't make it right.

Actually, adherence to the OT law by the Jews was severely restricted with the destruction of The Temple in 70AD.

This compelled Jewish religious leaders to change perhaps the most important part of the law, the sacrificial system for atonement.
So, the Jewish faith does not adhere in totality to the scriptures as given by God.

G-d says this in Hoshea 3:4,

For the children of Israel shall remain for many days, having neither king, nor prince, nor sacrifice, nor pillar, nor efod nor terafim.

So it's not exactly unpredicted. and G-d doesn't say 'Oh and it will make their religion untenable.'

 

[dybmh]

So it appears to me that this is no ordinary man, because no human can be in God’s presence and survive the experience ... we believe he [ Jesus ] is the only way to God.

Hi Deeje, I hear you. I appreciate the detailed reply. Maybe you're right that normal people cannot approach the throne of God and survive. However, God is everywhere, Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:1, Jeremiah 23:23-24.

 

[dybmh]

it's through the name at exodus 3:14. that is the WAY

I prefer charity... but I understand what you mean.

 

[dybmh]

personally i like strange. you should have read the link. i giggled

It's a great link, fool. Regarding arguing... I have a friend who insists that arguing ( under certain circumstances ) is foreplay... it kinda puts a knew spin on it.

 

[shmogie]

It's not about genetics, obviously. It's about culture, history and language. Saying that Christians know Jewish Scriptures better than Jews do is like saying Americans know British culture better than Brits do. The Jewish people have been around centuries upon centuries before Christians and spent that time studying their Scriptures, reading it in their own language, through their own culture, with a native understanding.

Christians are taught what to see (Jesus) and then find it. This is self-serving. I may well ask you why are Muslims wrong when they find Muhammad predicted in the Tanakh? They're doing the exact thing Christians do.

I disagree, with respect.

I know for example, Jewish Christian converts who speak and read Hebrew and were raised in the culture, yet they confirm the accuracy of Christian understanding. I know professors of theology who specialize in OT studies who are scholars of the language and culture, and religion of the ancient Jews.

I don't believe that you know "what Christians are taught", I think you think you know.

I understand your position, and I know what you are speaking of. I feel extremely frustrated when I consider how mohammed adopted and modified both Christian and Jewish scriptures and beliefs for his own purposes.

 

[shmogie]

Translating words is easy, the difficulty is in translating the mind set.

Are the words different from the mindset?

 

[Rival]

I disagree, with respect.

I know for example, Jewish Christian converts who speak and read Hebrew and were raised in the culture, yet they confirm the accuracy of Christian understanding. I know professors of theology who specialize in OT studies who are scholars of the language and culture, and religion of the ancient Jews.

I don't believe that you know "what Christians are taught", I think you think you know.

I understand your position, and I know what you are speaking of. I feel extremely frustrated when I consider how mohammed adopted and modified both Christian and Jewish scriptures and beliefs for his own purposes.

I know what Christians are taught. I was one most of my life.

 

[pearl]

Are the words different from the mindset?

I'm quite sure that there is considerable difference between a Jewish mindset and that of Greek philosophy.

 

[Spartan]

It isn’t strange at all to reject Jesus of Nazareth’s claim to be the moshiach Ben David. He didn’t fulfill the requirements to be the moshiach.

He will at the 2nd Coming - something you guys always fail to mention. Also, why are you ignoring Messiah ben Joseph - the Suffering Servant? Where is he in your analysis?

One thing that is strange about Christianity, and not a few Christians, is when it presumes to think it knows the Jewish Scriptures better than the Jews themselves. The hubris is most strange indeed.

What's shocking is how most Jews missed their Messiah. There's only two passages in the Tanakh that predict when the Messiah would appear - Genesis 49:10ff and Daniel chapter 9, and they both predict a 1st century date for his appearance.

Until Shiloh Comes

DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS PROPHECY

Why Israel Missed its Messiah

 

[McBell]

He will at the 2nd Coming - something you guys always fail to mention.

So the proof of his fulfilling prophecy is that he has not fulfilled prophecy yet?

 

[Spartan]

Most of the objections to Jesus by the Jews and others are covered / answered in this five part series by the foremost Messianic scholar Dr. Michael L. Brown. It's a phenomenal eye opener.

The five books are:

General and Historical Objections
Theological Objections
Messianic Prophecy Objections
New Testament Objections
Traditional Jewish Objections